Advances in QCD: Bridging Heavy-Ion Collisions and Electron Scattering at the Electron-Ion Collider

Dear Colleagues,

Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the fundamental theory of the strong interaction, is described by quarks and gluons, point-like elementary particles in the Standard Model of Particle Physics. Since its discovery over 50 years ago, QCD has been rigorously tested and validated by numerous experiments. Despite these advancements, its unique features, including confinement and asymptotic freedom, give rise to complex emergent phenomena such as nucleons, quark–gluon plasma, and neutron stars, spanning a vast range of scales. Understanding how these intricate many-body systems arise from first-principles QCD remains one of the central challenges in modern physics. Efforts to investigate the non-perturbative regime of QCD continue from two complementary approaches: first-principles calculations that push the boundaries of complexity and scale and high-energy collider experiments that create extreme conditions and resolve microscopic structures. Heavy-ion collisions and electron scattering experiments have both provided invaluable insights into QCD. Looking ahead, the Electron–Ion Collider (EIC), a next-generation facility, will bridge these approaches, offering unprecedented opportunities to explore the fundamental nature of the strong interaction. This Special Issue focuses on the latest theoretical advancements and experimental measurements that investigate QCD through observables accessible at the EIC. By bringing together both theoretical and experimental contributions, it aims to foster a deeper understanding of the non-perturbative QCD landscape and the emergent phenomena it encapsulates. In addition, submissions on innovations in detector instrumentation and cutting-edge technologies, including applications of Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and High-Performance Computing, are highly encouraged.

Dr. Zhaozhong Shi
Guest Editor

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• quantum chromodynamics
• non-perturbative QCD
• many-body systems
• quark-gluon plasma
• hadrons
• heavy-ion collisions
• electron scattering
• electron-ion collider
• machine learning/artificial intelligence
• high-performance computing